Wingate Wins 2017 SAC Football Championship

Wingate, N.C.----Wingate University senior running backs Blake Hayes (Greenville, S.C.) and Lawrence Pittman (Charlotte, N.C.) combined for 279 yards rushing and redshirt junior quarterback Dylan Williams (Whiteville, N.C.) threw a career-high four touchdown passes as the number 14 Bulldogs claimed an outright SAC title with a 44-20 South Atlantic Conference victory over Limestone College in Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field Saturday night.
 
GAME INFORMATION
 
Score: #14 Wingate 44, Limestone 20
Records: #16 Wingate (9-0, 6-0 SAC), Limestone (4-6. 3-4 SAC)
Location: Irwin Belk Stadium and John R. Martin Field, Wingate, N.C.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
 
-Hayes ran 13 times for 154 yards and two touchdowns, while Pittman carried 27 times for 154 yards.
-Williams completed 12-of-13 passes for 124 yards and four scores. Redshirt junior wide receiver Bryan Mitchell had two TD receptions.
-The two teams combined for 26 penalties and six turnovers.
-Limestone true freshman running back Jerko'ya Patton ran 22 times for 94 yards and one TD.
-In his final game as a Saint, graduate student place kicker Nick Smith had two field goals, including a 51-yarder. The 51-yarder was his third 50-plus yard three-pointer of the season.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
 
First quarter
 
D.J. Phillips started the scoring for the Saints by completing a 54-yard TD pass to D'Anta Fleming. Wingate completed an 11-play 69-yard drive with a three-yard TD pass from Williams to Mitchell. On the following WU possession, Blake Hayes dashed 49 yards to the end zone to add another TD. The Bulldogs only needed six plays to add another TD when Jay Hood caught a seven-yard scoring strike from Williams.
 
Second quarter
 
Jerko'ya Patton helped Limestone turn a fumble into six points, running two yards for a TD. These points were the only markers posted in the second stanza. 
 
Third quarter
 
Hayes ran 55 yards for another WU TD, made possible by a 38-yard kick return from B.J. Muckelvene. Nick Smith added three points with a 30-yard field goal. Smith shows off his leg strength as he nails a field goal from 51 yards out and adds to Limestone's score. Freddy McCollum adds a field goal from 33 yards. WU takes a two possession lead with about a minute left in the third quarter.
 
Fourth quarter
 
Williams and Muckelvene make a 30-yard scoring connection for the Bulldogs. Williams completes a pass to Bryan Mitchell for a 15-yard TD to finish the scoring. 
 
TURNING POINT
 
The opportunistic Bulldogs collected three second-half interceptions to put the game out of reach.